Page 34 of A Wedding at The Cornish Garden Café
‘I’m so excited about having the wedding here,’ Thora said when she caught up with Edith. ‘What a brilliant idea that was.’
‘I can’t take credit for it,’ Edith said, looking around for Wyatt, but she hadn’t spotted him yet. ‘It was Wyatt’s idea.’
‘When Finn told me that the hotel had to cancel, I was so worried, but then he said you and Wyatt had come up with a solution. To be honest, I think it will suit us all better. We love coming here, and it means that people don’t have to worry about transport. We can just come here and celebrate the love shared by our dear friends and party into the night.’
‘Oh god, hark at Mum!’ Rosie had appeared. She was positively glowing in a cerise sundress with her blonde hair down around her shoulders. She looked so much better than when Edith had spoken to her at the beach. ‘You donotwant to see Mum drunk.’
‘Hey…’ Thora pulled a face. ‘Don’t be so rude about your old mum.’
Rosie wrapped a toned arm around Thora’s shoulders. ‘You’re not old, Mummy Dearest.’ She planted a kiss on Thora’s forehead.
Edith smiled. Thora and Rosie had a lovely relationship. ‘You both look beautiful,’ she said.
Thora’s floral maxi dress fell to her ankles. It was black and pink, and the pink was the same shade as Rosie’s dress, so it was like they’d coordinated.
‘What? In our dresses that Mum picked out accidentally on purpose because she thought it would be nice to match?’ Rosie giggled as she flounced out the skirt of her dress. ‘Yeah… I did notice that.’ She winked at Edith and then hugged Thora again.
Rosie wandered over to speak to her dad, and Thora moved closer to Edith. ‘So how are you?’
‘I’m good, thanks.’ Edith nodded.
‘I was wondering because… well… How are things with Wyatt?’
‘Oh… He’s been amazing. So helpful and kind.’
‘And…’ Thora left the question hanging in the air between them.
‘And…’ Edith shrugged. ‘Wyatt is a good man. But that’s all there is to it.’ She wasn’t sure exactly what Thora was asking — or didn’t want to accept that she did — but knew that right now, she didn’t have an answer.
Wyatt had been so kind and supportive that her heart had begun to thaw towards him. A voice had whispered in her ear that he was older now and wiser, not that young man so focused on chasing a career that he had once been. That perhaps things could be different for them this time around… But then the icy fear had doused that flicker of hope like a candle flame and she’d been left wanting to cry and hide under the duvet.
Why did life have to be so damned scary? She was utterly terrified of getting hurt again, and yet she wanted to grab some joy out of life while she still could.
‘Look, Edith… I’ve seen the way you look at each other and it’s OK, you know? Lucas and I found our way back to each other, and we’re happier than ever. If anything, it’s so much better this time around because we’re both aware of how awful it was to be apart. This time around we make the most of every moment together because we’re making up for lost time. We know how important it is to treasure each other.’
Thora’s eyes glistened, and Edith touched her arm.
‘Thank you. I’m glad things are good between you and Lucas. I can see how much you love each other. It gives me hope I could find love again.’
‘With Wyatt?’
Edith took a breath then sighed. ‘Maybe.’
‘If it’s meant to be, it will be.’ Thora gave Edith a hug. ‘OK then, time for a refill!’ She held up her empty glass, then went over to Lucas, and Edith watched his eyes light up as they settled on the woman he loved.
Edith wandered over to the café and peered through the window, picturing what it would be like there next week when the wedding buffet was spread out. Her stomach gave a flip of excitement. After feeling so much anxiety and sadness over the years, excitement was very welcome.
‘Hello there!’ She turned to find Wyatt standing behind her carrying an icebox.
‘Hi.’ She swallowed. ‘I didn’t hear you arrive.’
‘I was around the back of the café. I brought some wine and beers up for this evening. Pearl put some in the fridge and I’ve brought some out so people can help themselves.’
‘That’s very thoughtful of you,’ she said.
‘Would you like a beer? Or a glass of wine?’
‘I’ve got a margarita, thanks.’ She held up the glass before taking a sip. It was fresh and bitter, strong and salty, and it made her mouth water.
